Shea Weber out with a concussion

Today the Predators used the dreaded “C” word when describing Shea Weber’s absence in Nashville’s lineup last night and why he left the Predators’ morning skate early. There was no hiding this one behind the guise of an “upper body” injury. Weber has a concussion.

Nashville said Weber suffered the issue when he was hit by Dallas Stars defenseman Mark Fistric late in Friday’s game. Here is YouTube video of the play. Nashville is cautiously optimistic that Weber will return Friday against St. Louis. But then again, with head injuries, who knows.

“He won’t play tomorrow, but there’s a chance for Friday,” Nashville Coach Barry Trotz said. “He is recovering pretty well I would say, but nothing is for sure all the time.”

Forward Jerred Smithson said he spoke with Weber Tuesday morning at Bridgestone Arena before practice. “When I saw him in this morning. He said he feels pretty good, but I’ve dealt with those things too, and you do feel good one day and the next day maybe not so much,” Smithson said.

The Predators didn’t detect an issue with Weber after the Dallas game. Weber conversed with reporters and skated the morning of the following game, Monday against Detroit. That’s where the issue was aggravated.

Defenseman Ryan Suter sits next to Weber in Nashville’s locker room and said that he didn’t notice anything wrong with the Predators’ captain yesterday before Nashville’s morning skate. Weber went out for the skate, and came off early.

“He seemed fine. On the plane (back from Dallas) he was fine, and yesterday, I guess he wasn’t feeling well,” Suter said. “We were laughing and joking and everything was good, and when he got out there, not so much.”